Newport County were held to a 1-1 draw against Bromley on Tuesday night at home.
A first half header from a corner kick by Cameron Evans sent County into the break a goal up. However, Bromley hit back in the second half through league top scorer Michael Cheek, who rescued a point for the Ravens at Rodney Parade.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made four changes to the side that faced Notts County last time out, with Joe Thomas, James Clarke, Cameron Evans and Keenan Patten coming into the starting eleven.
Patten made his first start for the Exiles since he joined in January from Barry Town United.
Newport County were able to carve out a great early chance after a ball was played in behind to Josh Martin. After getting control of the ball, Martin picked up his head and tried to find Bobby Kamwa in the middle. His initial cross was blocked, but he had another chance to swing a ball in and he found Courtney Baker-Richardson who fired just wide of the right post.
On the counter, Daniel Imray drove into the box and the winger shifted to shoot, but his subsequent shot was blocked well by Anthony Glennon who got in front of the strike.
Bromley worked the ball well in the final third, as Jude Arthurs cleverly back-heeled the ball into the path of Kamarl Grant who cannoned a powerful effort off the crossbar.
Newport County opened the scoring on the 33rd minute after a well worked corner routine. A great in swinging delivery from Glennon, was met at the near post by Cameron Evans who flicked a looped header into the far side of the goal.
The Exiles continued to put pressure on the Bromley backline as Kamwa and Baker-Richardson linked up well. Newport’s number nine was played in behind by his fellow forward and he did well to get a shot off to test the Ravens, but his effort was cleared.
It was Bromley’s turn to push forward with Ben Thompson, who raced through the County defence and teed up Michael Cheek in the middle but the striker was unable to finish from close range.
Moments later, another chance fell for the Ravens as Grant received the ball on the edge of the box. However, the defender was unable to make the most of his chance as he scuffed a shot wide.
Half time
County started the second half on the front foot as a sweeping attacking move ended with Kamwa cutting inside and bending an effort on target, but his effort was saved well by Samuel Long.
Kamwa once again was a focal point of the attack for County with the winger having a big impact in the early stages of the second half. The number seven, hit an audacious spinning volley from range that almost caught out Long who was forced into a difficult save.
As the game neared the 60th minute mark, Bromley had a chance after a great delivery from a deep free kick by Arthurs, but Ashley Charles was unable to hit the target.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser as another chance came for Grant who marauded up from defence and cut inside but his effort didn’t trouble Nick Townsend.
With Bromley growing into the half the Exiles looked to hit on the counter and Martin almost found the back on the net with a headed effort. The winger was picked out well by Cameron Antwi, but his downward header forced Long into what ended up being a routine save.
It was the visitors who scored next to level the game up on the 72nd minute as Michael Cheek headed home from Cameron Congreve’s deep cross.
With ten minutes left, Jardim made three changes as David Ajiboye, Noah Mawene, Shane McLoughlin replaced Kamwa, Martin and Thomas.
In the final minutes of the game, County tried to break down the Bromley defence with Cameron Evans who looped a long ball towards the back post. Unfortunately second-half substitute, Ajiboye, wasn’t able to connect with the deep cross.
As the game progressed into the five minutes of additional time, Kieron Evans skipped past a number of Bromley defenders but was brought down on the edge of the box. The ball was left to run to late substitute, Michael Spellman, but the forward couldn’t capitalise on the advantage as his strike hit the side netting.
After an edgy final minutes of additional time the points were shared with neither side able to net a winner.
Full time.
Newport County: Townsend, Glennon, Baker, Clarke (C), Kamwa (Ajiboye 81’), Martin (Mawene 80’), Baker-Richardson (Spellman 87’), Antwi, Thomas (McLoughlin 81’), C.Evans, Patten (K.Evans 60’).
Substitutes: Webb, Brennan.
Bromley FC: Long, Elerewe (Kacurri 63’), Charles, Sowunmi, Cheek (C), Grant, Whitley (McKirdy 63’), Arthurs (Congreve 63’), Imray, Odutayo (Mayor 71’), Thompson.
Substitutes: Haines, Kabamba, Ilunga.
Attendance: 3465 (Away 139)
